Please help me choose C220, C180 petrol or derv!

[Iiyama]

Hi all
Great forum and I have browsed for a while. At present I own a Honda Civic CTD-i. Great performance and economy between 40 - 45 mpg on a mixture of country and dual carriageway.
But I miss the build quality of German brands. That solid feel to the switch gear and driver experience. I previously owned Audi A3 TDI and BMW 320D. Loved the quality of the BMW but poor reliability.

I am looking at a Merc. But although quite well up on cars I know little about Mercedes reliability, economy and quality.

My budget is limited due to only owning the Honda for a year. But I have seen:

C220 CDI sports coupe 05 38000 miles
C180 Se Avantgarde 04 20000 miles
C180 kompresser sports edition 03 20000 miles

I really would prefer with sensible town driving to get mid 30's and country roads 40 ish. Long motorway runs 45 ish. So how do the above cars economy compare, expecting the 180 petrol to be poor?

Also reliability this is vital as is build quality.

Thanks in anticipation and hello!

 

[jberks]

The C220 for 3 reasons
1) Its a post 05 - MB did have quality issues but they were well behind them by 05. 03 maybe/maybe not and 04 better but not as good as an 05.
2) The economy on the cdi will be vastly better than the 180s and it's a bit quicker into the bargain.
3) The VED will be lower on the 220

So a faster better quality car with better mpg.

Not that it's high anyway but the mileage is irrelevant. A low mileage car like the 180s can be more worn than a medium to high miler as a result of mainly short stop-start trips rather than warm cruising and 32k on a merc engine is, in my experience, 20k short of properly run in. Mine has now reached 53k and is improving with every mile. My previous 240 was the same.

 

[brandwooddixon]

From what I've come across I think most will recommend the C220CDI over the others. More power, more economy, more relaxed.

 

[television]

Yes the CDI everytime

 

[Iiyama]

Cheers for the replies. So is the C220 D reliable?

 

[jberks]

Yes the 220cdi is the staple repmobile engine of choice in the C and the E. Millions of miles and very few problems.

 

[paulrobertson]

Next question.

Manual or Auto.

 

[turbopete]

everyone else on here will say auto. i say manual. at the end of the day though it comes down to personal preference. try to drive at least 1 example of each, then make up your mind

 

[Michael G 2]

Auto everytime they are so smooth and re sale will be easier. Merc manuals are frankly poor compared to rivals.

 

[turbopete]

Auto everytime they are so smooth and re sale will be easier. Merc manuals are frankly poor compared to rivals.

but if, like me, you mortally HATE auto's (and i do, even after 17 months and everyone telling me once you have 1 you never go back) and the fact that you cant stall them (had a thread tonight this would have been VERY useful as the car wouldnt turn off) you cant bump start them (if the battery is low and would be a boon for the 203's with the weak sam's) you cant tow them. at the end of the day, if an MB manual box was as bad as people say, they wouldnt make them as no one would buy them. if you prefer manual, buy a manual. yes they feel notchy AT FIRST and its true you cant race shift like a ford gearbox (and i raced fords for years!) once you learn exactly where the gates are in the box, they shift surprisingly quickly and smoothly. ive had 2 manuals. got an auto now. and through choice id have had a manual this time too, only the 300 turbodiesel was never offered with a manual box.

and incidentally, last i heard, if you were to buy say a BRAND NEW 220 cdi, its a manual. unless you get the £2 GRAND optional auto. its the same on all cars offered with manual boxes. the std car is a manual. if you want an auto, its a £2k option

 

[Michael G 2]

but if, like me, you mortally HATE auto's (and i do, even after 17 months and everyone telling me once you have 1 you never go back) and the fact that you cant stall them (had a thread tonight this would have been VERY useful as the car wouldnt turn off) you cant bump start them (if the battery is low and would be a boon for the 203's with the weak sam's) you cant tow them. at the end of the day, if an MB manual box was as bad as people say, they wouldnt make them as no one would buy them. if you prefer manual, buy a manual. yes they feel notchy AT FIRST and its true you cant race shift like a ford gearbox (and i raced fords for years!) once you learn exactly where the gates are in the box, they shift surprisingly quickly and smoothly. ive had 2 manuals. got an auto now. and through choice id have had a manual this time too, only the 300 turbodiesel was never offered with a manual box.

and incidentally, last i heard, if you were to buy say a BRAND NEW 220 cdi, its a manual. unless you get the £2 GRAND optional auto. its the same on all cars offered with manual boxes. the std car is a manual. if you want an auto, its a £2k option

Yes they have their problems it would help if they were stallable if you know what I mean. You could always make a 300TD manual that would be very interesting.

You are right with the 2K extra that is extortion, but for people like me who can only use one hand fully then you have to have them. I'm not anti manual, manuals are great in fast cars Lambo's, Fezza's etc. This is all IMO

 

[drdre78]

hi you know never know what you going to buy some of it just luck cos you never know what going to break next,bought vw nothing but trouble yet people buy them.i go for c180 271 engine as long as it goes fine check loom for oil in it at camshaft sensers and then just replace vacums pipes under air box

 

[turbopete]

Yes they have their problems it would help if they were stallable if you know what I mean. You could always make a 300TD manual that would be very interesting.

You are right with the 2K extra that is extortion, but for people like me who can only use one hand fully then you have to have them. I'm not anti manual, manuals are great in fast cars Lambo's, Fezza's etc. This is all IMO

the idea has been brewing, and may take form if the auto box goes down. 6 speed manual from a 270 cdi, modified flywheel clutch etc to suit box and make engine run (if required) pedal box, clutch master and slave cylinders, clutch pipework,gearstick gaiter from a manual car, anything ive missed?

 

[Michael G 2]

the idea has been brewing, and may take form if the auto box goes down. 6 speed manual from a 270 cdi, modified flywheel clutch etc to suit box and make engine run (if required) pedal box, clutch master and slave cylinders, clutch pipework,gearstick gaiter from a manual car, anything ive missed?

I don't think so I'm not mechanically minded lol. I'm guessing your keeping the W210 for a long time.

 

[turbopete]

if i get the engine sorted out, i plan to, yes. maybe a few subtle upgrades here and there and keep it indefinately!

 

[Michael G 2]

if i get the engine sorted out, i plan to, yes. maybe a few subtle upgrades here and there and keep it indefinately!

Seems like a plan keep on top of the rust and it will last you a lifetime or until the oil runs out.

 

[The Pan Man]

Iiyama, Your Civic manual is doing the same MPG as my E270 Auto. That must be a no brainer.